News Details

Still no agreement on accepting Syrian refugees

12/3/2015

It has been two weeks since Governor Rauner ordered a temporary halt to the process of accepting Syrian refugees into Illinois, and his administration says there still isn’t an agreement in place with the White House to move the process forward again.

Rauner says a pause in accepting Syrian refugees was needed in order to review the security process that is used to vet people who are seeking to come to the United States. This week, the White House offered to allow states to have access to background data on refugees, but only after resettlement. The Rauner Administration, however, says they need access to the information before refugees are settled, to protect Illinois citizens.

Rauner first ordered the halt to the process after the terrorist attacks in France. Media reports indicate at least two of the attackers entered Europe by posing as asylum seekers.